Geranium plant named `BFP-1705`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named &#39;BFP-1705&#39;, characterized by its numerous semi-double salmon and light pink-colored flowers; upright and rounded growth habit; vigorous and basal branching; and dark green leaves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name BFP-1705.

The new Geranium is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Arroyo Grande, Calif. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new cultivars with excellent basal branching, medium growth habit, numerous flowers and umbels, and interesting flower and foliage colors.

The new Geranium originated from a cross made by the Inventor of the proprietary Pelargonium×hortorum selection 7692-17 as the male, or pollen parent, with the proprietary Pelargonium×hortorum selection 1192 as the female, or seed parent. The cultivar BFP-1705 was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif., on Sep. 15, 1996.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken at Arroyo Grande, Calif., has shown that the unique features of this new Geranium are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of `BFP-1705`. These characteristics in combination distinguish `BFP-1705` as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Numerous semi-double salmon and light pink-colored flowers.

2. Upright and rounded growth habit.

3. Vigorous and basal branching.

4. Dark green leaves.

The new Geranium can be compared to the cultivar, `Americana Light Salmon` (disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,936). However, in side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Arroyo Grande, Calif., plants of the new Geranium differ from plants of the cultivar `Americana Light Salmon` in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Geranium are more vigorous than plants of the cultivar `Americana Light Salmon`.

2. Plants of the new Geranium have larger leaves with a more distinctive zonation pattern than plants of the cultivar `Americana Light Salmon`.

3. Plants of the new Geranium have larger flower umbels than plants of the cultivar `Americana Light Salmon`.

4. Plants of the new Geranium have more flowers per umbel than plants of the cultivar `Americana Light Salmon`.

5. Flower color of plants of the new Geranium is more orange than flower color of plants of the cultivar `Americana Light Salmon`.

6. Plants of the new Geranium have longer peduncles than plants of the cultivar `Americana Light Salmon`.

A detailed comparison of plants of the cultivar BFP-1705 and the cultivar `Americana Light Salmon` appears in Chart A at the end of the specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in a colored reproduction of this type. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of `BFP-1705`. Flower and foliage colors in the photograph may appear different from the actual colors due to light reflectance.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar BFP-1705 has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in 10-cm pots in Arroyo Grande, Calif., under commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse with day temperatures about 22° C. and night temperatures about 18° C.

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum cultivar BFP-1705.

Parentage:

Male parent.--Proprietary Pelargonium×hortorum selection 7692-17.

Female parent.--Proprietary Pelargonium×hortorum selection 1192.

Propagation:

Type cutting.--Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.--About 7 days at temperatures about 18° C.

Time to develop roots.--About 21 days at temperatures about 18° C.

Rooting habit.--Fibrous and freely branching.

Plant description:

General appearance.--Upright and rounded growth habit, vigorous. Appropriate for 10 and 12.5-cm containers. About nine weeks are required to produced a finished 10-cm container from a rooted cutting.

Growth and branching habit.--Basally branching with about two lateral branches at the base.

Plant height, base of plant to top of leaf plane.--About 26.8 cm.

Plant width.--About 20.6 cm.

Lateral branches.--Length: About 11 cm. Internode length: About 1.5 cm. Color: 143B/144A.

Foliage description.--Leaves simple, generally symmetrical, abundant, opposite. Quantity of leaves per lateral branch: About 12. Length: About 9.5 cm. Width: About 10.4 cm. Shape: Reniform with rounded apex, cordate base, crenate and undulating margin. Texture: Downy, both surfaces pubescent. Color: Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: Slightly lighter than 147A at base, 147A towards margin. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 137C. Venation, upper and lower surfaces: 137C. Petiole: Length: About 5.5 cm. Diameter: About 2.4 mm. Color: Between 143B and 144A.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.--Salmon and light pink-colored flowers. Very freely and continuously flowering. Flowers arranged in spherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils. Umbels displayed above or beyond the foliage. Usually about four umbels per plant. Flowers semi-double, round, slightly cupped. Umbels persistent.

Flowering season.--Year-round under greenhouse conditions. In the garden, flowering is continuous from spring through summer.

Umbels.--Number of flowers per umbel: About 52. Diameter: About 11.7 cm. Height: About 9 cm.

Flowers.--Diameter: About 4.6 cm. Depth (height): About 1.5 cm.

Flower buds.--Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm. Shape: Elliptic.

Petals.--Quantity: About 6 petals and about 4 petaloids, overlapping. Length: About 2.5 cm. Width: About 2.7 cm. Shape: Obovate with rounded apex and entire margin. Texture: Smooth, dull. Color: Fully opened, upper surface: 49C from base to center; center, 47D; margin, 42B. Fully opened, lower surface: 42C with 49C at base. Petaloids: Irregular in shape with very narrow base; about 1.3 cm in length and about 3 mm in width; towards margin, 42B, and base, 49C, in color.

Peduncle (umbel stem).--Length: About 18 cm. Strength: Strong. Angle: Mostly erect. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 144A.

Pedicel (individual flower stem).--Length: About 2.7 cm. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Light green, 144B with slight overtones of 182A.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Anther size: About 2 mm. Amount of pollen: Moderate. Pollen color: 31A. Gynoecium: Ovary color: Green.

Disease resistance: Under commercial conditions, resistance to pathogens has not been observed.

Seed development: Seed production has not been observed.

                  CHART A                                                          ______________________________________                                         CHARACTER-                 `AMERICANA                                          ISTIC                 `BFP--1705`                                                                          LIGHT SALMON`                                      ______________________________________                                         PLANT HEIGHT About 26.8 cm About 24 cm                                         PLANT WIDTH        About 20.6 cm                                                                              About 19 cm                                     LATERAL BRANCH                                                                                 About 11 cm                                                                                     About 10 cm                                   LENGTH                                                                         INTERNODE            About 1.5 cm                                                                              About 2.5 cm                                   LENGTH                                                                         LEAF LENGTH        About 9.5 cm                                                                                About 4 cm                                     LEAF WIDTH          About 10.4 cm                                                                             About 6.5                                       LBAF TEXTURE      Downy                Leathery                                LEAF ZONATION                                                                                   Distinct           Slight                                     PATTERN                                                                        WIDTH OF ZONE                                                                                   About 3.5 cm                                                                                  About 1.5 cm                                   UMBEL DIAMETER                                                                                 About 11.7 cm                                                                                 About 10.8 cm                                   UMBEL HEIGHT      About 9 cm                                                                                     About 6.2 cm                                 QUANTITY OF        About 52                                                                                        About 33                                   FLOWERS PER                                                                    UMBEL                                                                          PETAL COLOR,      49C from base                                                                                50D at margin fading                           FULLY OPENED,                                                                                   to center;                                                                                  to 50C at base with                              UPPER SURFACE                                                                                   center, 47D;                                                                                       veins of 50B                                                             margin, 42B                                     PETAL COLOR,      42C with base of                                                                         56D with veins of 49C                              FULLY OPENED,                                                                                   49C                                                           LOWER SURFACE                                                                  PEDUNCLE LENGTH                                                                               About 18 cm       About 11 cm                                   ______________________________________                                     

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Geranium plant named `BFP-1705`, as illustrated and described. 